Refrigerated Foods

REFRIGERATED FOODS

When to save and when to discard:

FOOD Held above 40 ºF for FOOD Held above 40 ºF for over 2 hours over 2 hours MEAT, POULTRY, Discard Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, Safe SEAFOOD Fresh or leftover dried fruits, candied fruits, meat, poultry, fish, or dates seafood Thawing meat or poultry Discard SAUCES, SPREADS, JAMS Discard if above 50 °F for Opened mayonnaise, tartar over 8 hrs. sauce, horseradish Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken Discard Peanut butter Safe or egg salad Gravy, stuffing Discard White wine Worcestershire Discard sauce Lunchmeats, hot dogs, Discard Fish sauces (oyster sauce) Discard bacon, sausage, dried beef Pizza – with any topping Discard Hoisin sauce Discard Canned hams labeled "Keep Discard Opened vinegar-based Safe Refrigerated" dressings Canned meats, opened Discard Opened creamy-based Discard dressings CHEESE Soft Cheeses: Discard Spaghetti sauce, opened jar Discard blue/bleu, Roquefort, brie, Camembert, colby, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel Hard Cheeses: cheddar, Safe BREAD, CAKES, Safe Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, COOKIES, PASTA Bread, Romano rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads Processed Cheeses Safe Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, Discard cookie dough Shredded Cheeses Discard Cooked pasta, spaghetti Discard Low-fat Cheeses Discard Pasta salads with Discard mayonnaise or vinaigrette Grated Parmesan, Romano, Safe Fresh pasta Discard or combination (in can or jar) DAIRY Milk, cream, sour Discard Cheesecake Discard cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt Butter, margarine Safe Breakfast foods – waffles, Safe pancakes, bagels Baby formula, opened Discard PIES, PASTRY Pastries, Discard cream filled EGGS Fresh eggs, Discard Pies – custard, cheese filled, Discard hard-cooked in shell, egg or chiffon dishes, egg products Custards and puddings Discard Pies, fruit Safe CASSEROLES, SOUPS, Discard VEGETABLES Fresh Safe STEWS mushrooms, herbs, spices FRUITS Fresh fruits, cut Discard Greens, pre-cut, Discard pre-washed, packaged Fruit juices, opened Safe Vegetables, raw Safe Canned fruits, opened Safe Vegetables, cooked Discard Vegetable juice, opened Discard Baked potatoes Discard Commercial garlic in oil Discard Potato Salad Discard

FROZEN FOODS

When to save and when to discard:

FOOD Still contains ice crystals and feels as Thawed. Held above 40 ºF for over 2 cold as if refrigerated hours MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD Beef, Refreeze Discard veal, lamb, pork, and ground meats Poultry and ground poultry Refreeze Discard Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, Refreeze Discard chitterlings) Casseroles, stews, soups Refreeze Discard Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products Refreeze. However, there will be some Discard texture and flavor loss. DAIRY Milk Refreeze. May lose some texture. Discard Eggs (out of shell) and egg products Refreeze Discard Ice cream, frozen yogurt Discard Discard Cheese (soft and semi-soft) Refreeze. May lose some texture. Discard Hard cheeses Refreeze Refreeze Shredded cheeses Refreeze Discard Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, Refreeze Discard soft cheeses Cheesecake Refreeze Discard FRUITS Juices Refreeze Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell or sliminess develops. Home or commercially packaged Refreeze. Will change in texture and Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell or flavor. sliminess develops. VEGETABLES Juices Refreeze Discard after held above 40 ºF for 6 hours. Home or commercially packaged or Refreeze. May suffer texture and flavor Discard after held above 40 ºF for 6 blanched loss. hours. BREADS, PASTRIES Breads, rolls, Refreeze Refreeze muffins, cakes (without custard fillings) Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or Refreeze Discard cheese filling Pie crusts, commercial and homemade Refreeze. Some quality loss may occur. Refreeze. Quality loss is considerable bread dough OTHER Casseroles – pasta, rice based Refreeze Discard Flour, cornmeal, nuts Refreeze Refreeze Breakfast items – waffles, pancakes, Refreeze Refreeze bagels Frozen meal, entree, specialty items Refreeze Discard (pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat pie, convenience foods)